Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 040, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 4, 2012 Page: 1 of 19
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DEDICATED TO PROUDLY DELIVERING LOCAL NEWS SINCE 1881
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Sunday, March 4, 2012
www.sweetwaterrenorter.com
Vol. 114, Issue 040 ■ $1
More phone scams
hit Sweetwater
BY BELINDA SERRANO
Staff Writer
The Sweetwater Police Department (SPD) wants to
make the public aware of another recent phone scam
that can have harsh financial consequences.
Detective Melinda Moncada with the SPD noted this
new line of scamming has been ongoing for around a
month. Scammers are calling and convincing residents
that they can get a new car along with $1 million by
purchasing a Wal-Mart money card and loading it with
a considerable amount of money. Once the card is
loaded, the callers then activate it and gain access to the
funds by transferring them to another card.
Not only is this scheme taking place in Sweetwater, but
in the surrounding communities. Detective Moncada
noted that an elderly lady in Roscoe fell victim to the
ploy and went to the extreme length of taking out a
loan, resulting in a loss of around $2,700.
Unfortunately, some people have also been caught
up in the scam and are on their second or third time
of giving the callers more money after being contacted
again.
Detective Moncada shared that these criminals are
out to get anyone that will take their vicious bait. The
Internet and a published telephone number help scam-
mers to get the information they want, but at the other
end of the spectrum, many of the numbers used by the
callers are untraceable.
In the local incident, says Detective Moncada, fam-
ily members made attempts to call the number back-
only to find an automated voice on the other end of the
line.
"We want to make the public aware of this to try to
protect them from being another victim of the scam,"
Detective Moncada stressed, "people need to be cau-
tious."
The SPD asks that they be contacted in the event of
receiving any type of suspicious call. They also empha-
size the fact of never giving personal information to a
caller unless vou know for certain who has contacted
you.
State arm agencies
host open houses
Doug Sitter 7
Agency «1
MstaL
5441 A
0013
The Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors welcomed Richard Fergeson State Farm, located at 808 E.
Broadway, (top photo) to Sweetwater with a ribbon cutting. He is shown (center) cutting the ribbon along with
his wife, Kaitlin and their new baby Macy Jane. Food and drinks were offered to those attending the event.
The State Farm location at 208 Lamar Street also hosted a meet and greet with the community, providing free
hot dogs, popcorn and drinks for those coming to tour the building and speak to personnel. Shown above are
Rosa Johnson, Brandi Sitter, agent Doug Sitter, Danica Hickson and Jessica Ran gel.
Photos by Tatlana Rodriguez
Voter
registration,
redistricting
concerns
addressed
BY BELINDA
SERRANO
Staff Writer
The state redistricting
debacle has not only mak-
ing an impact on the state's
presidential primary this
year, but also on the local
races.
However, with the
recent announcement
that the Texas presiden-
tial primary date has been
set for Tuesday, May 29,
Kathy Bowen with the
Nolan County Tax Office
wants to assist voters in
the interim while putting
some rumors to rest.
Recently, calls have been
made about voter registra-
tion cards in regards to an
email that has been cir-
culating. The email states
that without an updated
registration card, regis-
tered citizens cannot vote-
-which is a false state-
ment.
According to an email
from the Texas Secretary
of State's Election Office:
"...Once the court approves
interim redistricting maps
and counties have the
opportunity to finalize
precinct lines, the county
will issue new voter regis-
tration certificates."
In addition, the email
notes that "the expira-
tion of your old voter
registration certificate on
12/31/2011 does not inval-
idate your voter registra-
tion." '
Voters who have
changed their name or
residence address (with-
in the same county) will
still need to submit their
updated information to
the county voter registrar.
But, if a voter has changed
their residence to a new
county, he will have to
submit a new voter regis-
tration application at least
30 days before the election
date.
But now that state has
completed the redistrict-
ing process, the county
still has to—as necessary-
-correct and verify the
voter registration certifi-
cates before they can be
mailed out. (Nolan County
is currently split among
different districts.)
With this step com-
pleted, potential candi-
dates can now begin to
file. Nolan County Clerk
Pat McGowan stated that
the filing date has been
extended to a March 9
deadline ending at 6 p.m.
As a result, campaign-
ing efforts can start and
• See VOTERS page A3
CM K
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Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 114, No. 040, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 4, 2012, newspaper, March 4, 2012; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth229704/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.